If you’ve ever filed a personal injury claim before, you’re likely familiar with how difficult the process can be if you don’t have an attorney fighting for your rights.
But what if you and your passenger want to use the same attorney, even if one of you was at-fault in the accident? At first glimpse this may look suspicious, and nobody could blame you for thinking that. You may assume that the attorney is putting compensation and the almighty dollar ahead of responsibilities to the client.
There are certain guidelines that attorneys must follow that if implemented and executed properly would eliminate the concerns that might arise out of a situation such as this.
When the passenger is involved in a car accident and suffers injuries, they typically file a claim against the driver’s insurance company as well as the insurance company of the person that caused the wreck. If one attorney represents that driver, the attorney’s job is to advocate for that driver.
But if the passenger also works with the same firm, there lies a potential conflict. Then, the attorney/law firm must advocate for both the driver and the passenger. Filing a claim against the at-fault driver means that the same lawyer is the subject of their own injury claim. Yes, it can be confusing.
Someone looking for representation should do their due diligence and go with their gut. Law firms should do internal checks and make sure conflicts of interest such as this do not arise. However, if you find yourself in need of representation, do not hesitate to contact an experienced car accident lawyer.